DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTERThirty years of Teaching, Learning, Caring for marine mammals and the environment we share.DRC is a nonprofit marine mammal education and research facility located in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys. Home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, DRC offers a variety of educational, fun, exciting programs, and close-up interactions. We hope you enjoy our blog!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Every dolphin has their favorite toy. Some love target
poles, others like to play with basketballs. Calusa loves her hula hoops. If
you throw a hoop to any of the dolphins and Calusa can get her flippers on it,
it’s hers.

Recently, Calusa has been swimming around with a hoop that’s
not so circular anymore. A few weeks ago, it broke. We’d be happy to give her a
brand new hula hoop in exchange for the broken one, but Calusa has decided that
she’s happy with this one. It’s quite hilarious to see her tote around a
non-intact hoop as she gleefully swims around her lagoon, especially when she
takes the time to show it off to everyone who walks by.

If you’re out on the causeway, look for an adorable dolphin
with a ruffled dorsal fin on the left hand side of the back lagoons. You can’t
miss this special lady, especially with her purple broken hoop.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Since the 1990s, Dolphin Research Center has committed ourselves to supporting our nation's military service personnel, veterans, and their families. In 2009, we first welcomed the Wounded Warrior Project to DRC, followed by our first visit by the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride in 2010.

Each year since, Soldier Ride has returned. In the meantime, there have been a number of other activities including Military Dolfriend, the Wounded Warrior Project's Project Odyssey, visits by military familes, caregivers and more. We welcome each one of these very special people and delight in sharing the dolphins and sea lions with them for the day.

Recently, the Wounded Warrior Project wanted to thank Dolphin Research Center and they chose a special way to do so by giving each of us a Wounded Warrior shirt. To acknowledge the gift we gathered as many staff members as possible to model our new shirts, and then sent the above collage to our friends at the Wounded Warrior Project.

It means a lot to us to welcome our country's military personnel and their families to DRC and, as you can see by our smiles, we love our gifts and are honored to wear these shirts,

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Distance Learning has become the new frontier in education.
Becoming increasingly popular in university classrooms and a staple for
youngsters as they embark on their educational journey, there is a huge demand
for captivating courses that can be taught around the globe. While distance
learning is not a new method of teaching, it originated using snail mail in the
early 1700s; an increase in technology and the ability to have a computer in
your pocket has made distance learning the new norm.

The emergence of Internet technology has allowed Dolphin
Research Center to spread our wings and take the education experience to a
whole new level. Now students don’t have to come to the dolphins, we can bring
the dolphins to them! Imagine the motivation to learn when your teacher isn’t
only a marine mammal expert, but a flippered friend too. Using a combination of
pre-recorded demonstrations, real time discussions, and live on the dock
sessions, learning about marine mammals has never been so in depth and
exciting!

DRC’s Education department has been taking strides towards
making our lesson plans available to classrooms all over the world and
tailoring discussions to a wide range of subjects including Dolphin
Anatomy/Physiology, Marine Mammal Training, Marine Mammal Health, Cognition
Research with Dolphins, Dolphin Ecology and Conservation, Dolphin Reproduction
and Maternity, and more programs in the making. DRC offers courses on a
science-based marine mammal subject as well as out-of-the-box sessions.

The staff at DRC has learned that students are more engaged
when they feel connected to the subject. Think about it; do you learn more from
a book about riding a bicycle, or by actually riding a bicycle?

Every course is broken down by subtopic, gently easing
students into the subject. Within a 30-45 minute lesson, students will cover a
broad range of information while feeling engaged as they watch marine mammals
demonstrate aspects of the lesson. After each session, our experts extend an
invitation to have a classroom discussion and answer any burning questions
about the topic that are on the student’s minds .

Distance Learning opportunities are reasonably priced at
only $65 per session. They are offered throughout the year, direct from the
Florida Keys to your classroom. All presentations can be modified for any age
group and meet all National,
and Next Generation Education Standards as well as Ocean Literacy Principles.

For more information, or to arrange a Distance Learning
experience for your class, please contact the Education Department at
305-289-1121, ext. 225, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time, or email us at education@dolphins.org.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Grassy Key… On Monday, January 21st,
Florida Keys teachers can take advantage of a day off from school to visit Dolphin
Research Center for free!From 9 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. teachers can show their school identification and be admitted free to
watch dolphins and sea lions in action, attend theater presentations on a
variety of topics and learn about the many different educational opportunities
available to teachers and their students.Each teacher is invited to bring one guest who will also be admitted for
free.Admission includes access to the
Shawn Rodriguez Family Sprayground where people of all ages can play in jets
and streams of water shooting from colorful marine life structures.DRC is located at 58901 (mile marker 59)
Overseas Highway, Grassy Key.For more
information about Teacher Appreciation Day, call 289-1121, extension 209, or
visit the website at www.dolphins.org.

Founded
in 1984 as a nonprofit education and research center, Dolphin Research Center
is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions.Open daily for the public to see narrated behavior sessions
and educational presentations and to participate in interactive programs with
the dolphins, the center is funded by admission and program fees as well as by
private donors and members.In addition
to being one of the most highly respected facilities in the world, DRC is the
Licensed Manatee Rescue Team for the Florida Keys and is an accredited member
of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Grassy Key…On Friday, January 11th, Dolphin Research Center (DRC) will welcome the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride when the adaptive cycling event comes through the Florida Keys.For the fourth year in a row, the cyclists and their support group will stop at DRC where upwards of 50 soldiers will enjoy a Dolphin Encounter dolphin swim free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Charles Evans Foundation.This event honors our military men and women as they courageously battle the physical and psychological damages of war.DRC members, local residents and visitors will be able to join the line welcoming these heroes.The group is expected to arrive between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.Admission to DRC is free for current members.Other visitors can become members with their donations when they get to DRC that day.

These soldiers are coping with life-altering injuries to body, mind and spirit, including single or double amputations, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder.To watch them leave their troubles behind on land for a joyful time swimming with dolphins inspires all who see the experience take place.For many of the participants, the dolphin swim further empowers them on their journey to restore their physical and emotional well-being.

The Charles Evans Day for the Wounded Warrior Project at Dolphin Research Center has become a true community event.The soldiers arrive to a heroes’ welcome from DRC staff, volunteers and visitors.Each is supplied with a wetsuit, loaned by Captain Hook’s Dive Shop, Marathon.Before the Dolphin Encounter, they will enjoy a delicious lunch catered by La Trattoria of Key West.Signs by Renee, of Marathon, has designed a welcome banner.After the swim, the soldiers also receive a complimentary disk of photos.

For many years, Dolphin Research Center has committed itself to supporting veterans and active duty personnel from all branches of the United States military.

DRC Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Armando “Mandy” Rodriguez is himself a veteran who served in Vietnam in the U.S. Marine Corps.Throughout the year, DRC seeks to provide programs not only for the wounded warriors, but also caregivers of injured soldiers, family of active duty personnel, and families who have lost a loved one serving in the war.

Founded in 1984, Dolphin Research Center is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions.Located at 58901 (mile marker 59) Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida, the center is open daily for the public to see narrated behavior sessions and educational presentations, and to participate in interactive programs with the dolphins.The nonprofit organization is funded by admission and program fees as well as by private donors and members.In addition to being one of the most highly respected education and research facilities in the world, DRC is the Licensed Manatee Rescue Team for the Florida Keys and is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.For more information, visit the center’s website at www.dolphins.org.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Earlier in the fall, the
dolphins enjoyed a serenade by Charlie Imes
& Rick Schettino. The two musicians put on an impromptu concert
for the front lagoon. Armed solely with their guitars and Keys-y voices,
Charlie and Rick put on a great show for the group.

Each of the dolphins took
the opportunity to check out the concert. They listened to soulful sounds and
swayed their bodies to the beat of the songs. One by one, the dolphins peeked out of the
water to get a closer view of the vocalists.

Flagler seemed to enjoy
the music the most. He spent a great deal of time hanging out by the dock as he
listened to the sweet sounds of the duo. Much of his time was spent stationed where
he could enjoy a front row experience.

As the music continued,
the dolphins weren’t the only audience. Guests came to watch the performers. They
had a great crowd full of both guests and staff. Everyone had a wonderful time
listening to the music.